Dane Sardinha proves his worth to Tigers

Backup catcher Dane Sardinha isn't known for what he can do at the plate (it's his solid defense and handling of pitchers which keeps him in baseball) but he showed what he could do yesterday, starting a key rally with a double to deep center field. According to the Detroit Free Press, the Tigers know they have a very capable backup in Sardinha.

May 4, Detroit Free Press: "That's no guarantee I'll be here, though," Sardinha said after Detroit's 3-1 victory over Cleveland on Sunday. "I've still got to catch and hit at least a little bit. If I don't do that, I know Dusty (Ryan) is on my tail."

Sardinha was behind the plate on Sunday, his second start since Treanor was placed on the disabled list. Just as he had the previous week in Kansas City, Sardinha played sound defense in a low-scoring victory. Justin Verlander praised him afterward, saying, "He called a great game. A lot of situations where I thought I was going to shake to a pitch, he went right to it."

"We are fine with Sardinha in his role," club president/general manager Dave Dombrowski said Sunday in an e-mail.